Please find below the full list of books included in our upcoming SYK event!
Keep this page bookmarked and don’t forget to come back between 3rd and 5th July to grab yourself some indie book bargains. The buying links are beneath each book but please note the sale price will not be available until the start of the event on 3rd July!
Fantasy
The Cruel God’s Awakening – Lucy A. McLaren
Download for free (various vendors).
An ancient power granted by a cruel god is manifesting in unsuspecting children across the Kingdom of Septima-and the cult-like Commune will stop at nothing to take any who possess it under their control.
Evelyn Folksman is in hiding. Taken in by a tavern-owner, she is haunted by the horrific events that drove her from her home years before. She is forced to face her past when two wayward children, Raif and Rose Huntsman, arrive at the tavern, pursued by Commune soldiers. The children fall under Evelyn’s reluctant care as the trio narrowly escape a raid.
Relentlessly hunted by Commander Jonah Sulemon and Commune agent Lord Eirik Torrant, Evelyn and Raif cannot fathom why they are of such interest to the Commune, until six-year-old Rose unwittingly reveals a terrible secret: she possesses powers more fearsome than any the Commune has unearthed in decades. There are only two options: to be captured and used as pawns, or to trust the mysterious rebels who promise them safety.
Trigger warnings: historical sexual assault (referenced numerous times) and attempted sexual assault, violence, descriptions of injuries, mild gore, religious oppression, sexism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, and toxic relationships.
***
The Mad Man’s Hope – Lucy A. McLaren
Buy for 99p/99c (various vendors).
Evelyn Folksman has partnered with the enemy.
Desperate to save her friends, she has reluctantly agreed to travel with former Commune Commander, Jonah Sulemon, to his home islands where he has promised a weapon that will allow them to take down the Commune once and for all. To succeed, both Evelyn and Jonah must face the trauma of their pasts and learn to trust one another.
Meanwhile, Raif Huntsman is searching for his sister, Rose, who holds incredible and dangerous powers. Alongside rebel Hector Haralambous, he travels to Nook Town, where they hope to find Rose, and to stop her powers being abused by those who kidnapped her … but where they will encounter a regime just as oppressive—and perhaps even as deadly—as the Commune’s.
Lovers become enemies, enemies become allies, and all will be tested to their limits in this second instalment in The Commune’s Curse series.
Trigger warnings: sexual assault, violence, descriptions of injuries, mild gore, religious oppression, sexism, racism, homophobia.
***
The Fated – Katelynsam
A NOVEL ABOUT A MYSTERIOUS SHIP THAT CARRIES ITS PASSENGERS TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION.
A voyage of dreams and nightmares. Welcome aboard The Fated.
The price of a second chance may be more than a ticket.
Every sixteen years a luxurious ocean liner known as The Fated appears at the docks to carry a few lucky passengers to paradise. Yet when people onboard begin disappearing, one woman soon discovers their destination might not be paradise after all.
Amarra Obrel never expects to receive a boarding ticket in the mail for the legendary ship known as The Fated. Ever since failing her chance at becoming a concert pianist three years ago, she has spent her days as an elevator operator, resigned to the uninteresting future that seems set before her. When given the opportunity to embark on The Fated, however, she boards with the hope of starting a new life. Yet she soon senses something dark and sinister lurks beneath the ship’s decadent halls, ornate ballrooms, and opulent jazz clubs. When people close to her begin disappearing, she is left with no other choice than to set out and uncover the vessel’s secrets along with fellow passenger Kye-Shin Hura. But instead of providing answers, every discovery leads to more questions—questions about why they were selected for this voyage in the first place and more disturbingly: If not to paradise, then where exactly is The Fated taking them?
With cinematic and haunting prose that blends the genres of fantasy, dystopia, and paranormal, The Fated is the perfect suspenseful and atmospheric listen for fans of The Giver, The Night Circus, Titanic, and The Midnight Library. It is for listeners who appreciate a mix of genres, blending fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, and mystery into a single, gripping narrative. Listen today and embark on a voyage of a lifetime.
Trigger warnings: Minor suspense and haunting elements. Brief descriptions of melting people. Mentions of a lost family member.
***
Urban Shifter – Johanna M Rae
Lycanthrope, Van Harper, was supposed to be flying below the radar to protect his secret vigilante identity. But, when a sexy female mage gate-crashes his world, and kisses him to distraction, there’s no denying their chemistry. With the line between his covert and public lives suddenly blurred, Van must decide if falling in love is one complication too many.
This prequel novella sets the scene for the Epwell Vigilantes series, with four full length novels to follow.
Trigger warnings: N/A
***
Avalon Hall – Ruth Miranda
When Yseult Urquhart’s magic finally manifests, she finds herself saving her own life and faced with a choice.Submitting to her family’s demands that she returns to Scotland and joins Avalon Hall – a school for witches who come late into their magic – the youngest member of the powerful Urquhart clan enters a place of mysteries and secrets, where nothing is what it seems.
Voices from the past, visions of long ago times, even a possible ghost, all materialise before Yseult’s eyes and ears, driving her to a spiral of confusion and curiosity that has her delving into what lies behind Avalon Hall.
And why does it carry that name?
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, war, violence, death.
***
Fated Knights – Timothy Robare
Four men sent off to die raise an army for redemption. One last war against the enemy as they take fate into their own hands.
Trigger warnings: Violence.
***
Found – Claris Lam
Found contains eight short stories bringing a twist to retelling fairytales from different points of view, such as the witch that kept Rapunzel in a tower, the titular Juniper Tree, and the hunter that refused to kill Snow White.
Fans of Grimm fairytales and their retellings will find themselves entertained with new perspectives on classic stories.
Trigger warnings: As these stories are largely inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ versions of the fairytales, they contain somewhat described (if not explicitly described) attempted (and sometimes successful) murders, an attempt at suicide, discussed and non-graphic domestic abuse and/or neglect, gaslighting, and kidnapping.
***
The Blood of the Lion – C.D. McKenna
Destiny is irrefutable.
And Syra, Morei, and Cyrus all have something in common: death.
The Demon Killer, once responsible for the Diyrặllian Massacre, has been found after being lost for centuries. Millions of lives fell victim to this treacherous relic . . . and now Syra holds it. Torn from the sanctuary of her home, she must learn to live on the run in search for freedom, hunted by forces known and unknown.
Fate can be cruel, and Morei Geral knows this firsthand. As the king and sole heir to his bloodline, Morei must hide the twisted truth of who he is becoming. But as the king slips further into his curse, war becomes inevitable, and he will have to make a choice that could undo everything he’s worked for.
Meanwhile, as chaos rages and fear grips the heart of all, attention is turned on the first Dragon Rider to rise in nearly eight centuries. Cyrus wants nothing to do with prophecies and war. But he will protect his dragon, Sozar, above all else. His only choice is to cast aside the life he once knew and traverse the mysterious Releuthian Mountains, said to be the home of the God of Darkness himself.
Everyone has a destiny. No one can be trusted.
Not even the Gods.
Trigger warnings: Violence, Cursing, Mentions of Assault.
***
The Dragon of Dread Deep – C.D. McKenna
Some of the greatest heroes were once the villain.
A pirate. A heist. A destiny he never wanted . . . And the birth of a Dragon Rider.
Cassian is a thief—one of the best. As a loyal member of the White Horn pirates and a Queens’ Bidder, he knows that only one law matters in the Vore waters: obey the Red Queens or die. But when whispers of rebellion spread among the worshippers of the Red Goddess, Cassian’s world erupts into chaos, and survival becomes his only goal. Damn the rest.
But a mad king’s heist offers the impossible—a dragon egg for the chance at freedom. Cassian and his crew set sail on a mission that will change their destinies forever. A daring plan through the unforgivable Grave of Seas brings trouble. Before Cassian can escape, he’s bonded to a dragon who sees him as the one thing he’s always denied: a hero.
Now, with an empire rising, a war on the horizon, and a past that won’t let go, Cassian must make a choice—stay the rogue he’s always been or become the legend he never wanted to be.
In the world of The Vorelian Saga, pirates and dragons collide in a dark, high-stakes tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption. The sea is no place for the restless . . . but it’s the perfect place for a legend to be born.
Trigger warnings: Violence, Cursing, Torture.
***
To Crown A Duchess: Witches of Tradbeldam Book 2 – Laura E. Thompson
In book two of The Witches of Tradbeldam series, a small group of witches and witchers try to repair personal relationships. At the same time, they must fend off killer soldiers sent by an evil cardinal, who orchestrated the king’s assassination and claimed the throne. The group races against time to replace the villainous cardinal before he can eradicate the Magik community and anyone he considers that have ‘pagan’ beliefs. There is but one who can take his place to bring harmony to the kingdom.
Megaira is the bastard daughter of the deceased Duke of Tradbeldam and she stands ready to instill peace but is she prepared to take the throne? Is she mature enough to survive the onslaught from the embedded elders? Can Moya, Sowena, and the small group of ‘brothers and sisters at arms’ remove the powerful cardinal while protecting the only person who can unite the kingdoms?
Dive into a world set in Celtic times of lore and magik with engaging characters where you will not want to leave.
Trigger warnings: Hints of abuse, cheating, general violence.
***
Land of Heart and Shadows – Olivia Gold
Before there was Marcus, there was Kiran.
Darci awakens in a new world created by her own hands and power. As she takes on a new identity, she becomes enthralled by the strange, rugged man named Kiran, who found her alone on a hill.
She wants a fresh start, but the darkness wants her more. Kiran offers her a place to stay, and the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow toward one another.
Together, they grow from strangers to friends to more in this no-spice prequel novella set in the world of House of Death and Shadow.
Trigger warnings: Animal death (deer hunted for food), Death, Creatures, Light violence.
***
Forgotten Memories – Cecilia Agetun
Being a demon isn’t easy, especially when you’ve grown up learning the importance of love and friendship.
When Jax gets summoned by his best friend and asked to protect his only child, Cassie, who’s been hidden away in the human world, he agrees.
He thought it would be simple – protect the girl while she learns the truth about herself and the abilities she holds. What he hasn’t counted on is the shock that runs through him when they touch, immersing him in feelings and memories he can’t place.
As he tries to figure out the nature of the bond that connects them, he realises that something else is at play – a magic that could be working for or against them. Will he be able to honour his promise and keep Cassie safe?
Trigger warnings: bullying, violence, kidnapping.
***
Horror
Hypochondria – Sarah R. New
Buy for 99p (other retailers).
After the death of her mother, Emma spends a year sleepwalking through life, until one day she receives a letter that changes everything. Memories of the past flooding back, Emma’s health anxiety spirals, and she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into her hypochondriac thoughts…
Hypochondria is a literary body horror novella that explores what happens when your body starts to betray you.
Trigger warnings: Please be advised, this work has depictions of death, abuse/self harm, swearing and panic attacks in it.
***
Mystery
Your Knowledge Or Your Life? – Sophie Maddon
What if knowledge made you powerful—and money made you irrelevant?
A prank gone wrong drops seventeen-year-olds Jason and Eva into a London almost identical to their own. Almost. Here, intellectual curiosity commands respect, knowledge opens doors, and Jason’s charm and family platinum card are suddenly… useless.
Eva, on the other hand, is thriving. The scholarship student who spent years being reminded she didn’t belong in a world obsessed with wealth? She’s finally getting the recognition she deserves—and she’s not exactly in a hurry to leave.
But when they realise several strange “accidents” happened the day they arrived, the timing feels impossible to ignore. If they want answers, they’ll have to work together… which would be easier if they could stand each other.
A sharp, character-driven speculative YA about power, perspective, and who gets to matter.
Trigger warnings: Death of a parent (spoiler alert! – not the main event, doesn’t happen on page).
***
Poetry
Writing with Wolves – Timothy Robare
Poetry about wandering the woods, wolves, the concrete world, and being mixed.
Trigger warnings: None.
***
Romance
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Tracey Mayhew
Home is where the heart is…
Kelly Stapleton thought she had it all: a job she loved, a great flat and a sexy, musician boyfriend to boot! But, lately, the job’s turned sour, the flat’s a mess and as for the boyfriend…? Well, the less said about him the better. Still, she muddles along, telling herself everything will be fine in the end… until, one day, her world falls apart and she runs back to the only place she can call home: Keldsthwaite.
Ryan Sherwood has only one rule in life: never let anyone get too close. After all, it wouldn’t just be his heart on the line but that of his thirteen-year-old daughter’s, too. But, when Kelly takes a job at his school, he discovers that some rules are made to be broken. But, when the going gets tough, will Kelly and Ryan find a way past their heartbreak to write their own happy ending?
Trigger warnings: None.
***
Endless Love – Tracey Mayhew
Coming home is never easy…
Thirteen years ago, Nikki Reynolds left Keldsthwaite, and the family business, to pursue her own dreams in London. Now, she has a career she loves, a flat filled with the latest tech and gadgets as well as the perfect boyfriend. She knows how lucky she is… so why does she feel there’s something missing? And why has she been thinking of home so much lately?
When a family emergency calls Nikki back home to the beauty of the Lake District, all of these thoughts disappear as she focuses all her energy on supporting her parents and rebuilding the bridges she burnt when she left.
But, as the full extent of her parents’ troubles are revealed, will Nikki be able to save the family business before she returns to London? And can she fight her growing feelings for Cameron Lucas, her parents’ sexy, and extremely annoying, farm manager?
Trigger warnings: None.
***
Kiss Me Like Yesterday – Aleisha Maree
He loved her, yet had to hurt her in order to save her.
One night in the rain it all comes crashing down.
A place he fought to belong, knowing he was different, hated, even feared.
You are not what we want for her. Those words ricocheted inside his mind. Taunting.
Haunting.
Breaking his soul. He tried to numb the pain with substances.
Until the substances didn’t work anymore.
He moved to bloodshed and violent desires to feed the demons that festered inside his soul.
For mistakes he made.
Each time his pager dinged a reminder, a heartbreak, that destroyed them both.
Until the pages stop.
His body went from numb to chaotic. His demons rattled in their cages screaming, shaking, begging for the key he held to release them into the world.
They saved him, when he needed it the most.
Gave him a place to unleash his demons.
The chaos silenced the anger.
Chaos Bleeds MC became more than a brotherhood, it became a home, where he walked his darkest walk inside the walls of pure chaos that caused one’s body to hum.
Two years slipped past.
Two painful years. Each day he thought of her. Each night he dreamed of her. Each step he took muscle memory formed of memories all of her. Like a never-ending story on a sepia filter film roll.
One message on his pager changed it all. Nobody can love her like I did and nobody can hurt her like I did. Now there are 509 Miles of thinking; what will be the first words that leave my mouth to say to her that could fix the damage I caused on that one rainy night in June.
Trigger warnings: Loss, baby loss death drugs addiction, divorce, cheating, violence.
***
Love Me With Lies – Aleisha Maree
Penn is a writer researching catfishing for a lifestyle magazine. When her husband leaves her without warning, the story becomes personal in the most unexpected way.
While gathering material for an exposé, Penn stumbles across her estranged husband’s dating profile. Curious. Wounded. Still in love. She matches with him.
As Pandora, Penn watches Blake rewrite their marriage in real time. The lies are familiar. Comforting. Dangerous. And the more he opens up to the woman he thinks she is, the more Penn questions whether he ever loved the real one.
Then Dane appears. Gentle, grounded, and quietly persistent. Dane sees Penn without asking her to perform or pretend, offering a connection built on truth rather than control.
Torn between exposing deception and becoming consumed by it, Penn must choose between the past that still claims her and a future that demands honesty.
Love Me With Lies is a dark, emotionally intense romance about betrayal without bruises, the cost of staying silent, and learning how to love without erasing yourself.
Trigger warnings: Loss, baby loss death drugs addiction, divorce, cheating, violence.
***
Mediterranean Waves – L.E. Minx
After over a year Sam has broken free of a narcissistic online lover, but mentally, a shell of who she used to be; Sam is lost. Her oldest friend, Nina, insists Sam take a healing journey to the scenic country of Greece.
Sam’s hesitation about the journey melts away as she’s entranced by Greece’s lovely scenery, kind people, and gorgeous men, one in particular. Lucian, the sarcastic and flirtatious Florida boy, instantly charms Sam and offers a chance to step out of her comfort zone and experience the fun in life. “You’re thinking too much, Sam, life is an adventure, you should live it,” Lucian says and a sassy new friend, Jenny, agrees. Together, they take Sam on an awakening journey that changes how she feels about herself and life. When Sam’s heart is opened and she loves herself again, unexpected, perfect love finds her, now she must be brave enough to trust it.
Mediterranean Waves is an adult Contemporary Women’s Romantic Fiction novel featuring unconventional romantic relationships open door spice 4-5 level. It features an independent, sex positive FMC, and includes multiple lovers and friends. LGBTQ and CNM relationships present.
Trigger warnings: Mention of Abuse, Death.
***
Sci-Fi
AVA – Lydia L. Baker
First, MTech came for the city and we allowed it. They put up the Barrier and we stayed quiet, silenced by the fear of what was beyond. Our elderly were next and still we didn’t cry out; then they came for the women, removed their fertility and stole our future, so I hid. I became Alec and I turned my back on my true self, Ava.
Ava can’t live as Alec any longer, the lie is killing her, destroying all that she is.
The world beyond MTech’s Barrier calls to her and she can’t ignore it. She has to know what, if anything, survived the terrible day that tore her family apart fourteen years ago.
But what if the Outside is far more dangerous than anything Ava has ever faced on the Inside?
Trigger warnings: death of a child.
***
ANNA – Lydia L. Baker
Ava’s story continues in Book 2 of the Broken World Series – ANNA.
Anna watched her twin sister, Ava, turn into the very same alien creature that stole her daughter and destroyed humanity—her sister has become an invader, a Ghost.
As the Barrier comes down and humanity fights to destroy the alien plague, Anna is left with an impossible choice: kill the thing her sister has become or find a way to save her, knowing the risk that the creature would pose to her and those closest to her.
With tensions rising between the world inside the barrier and the one on the outside, can humanity find a way to co-exist, or will they simply destroy each other?
Trigger warnings: miscarriage, violence.
***
EVE – Lydia L. Baker
Humanity’s fight for survival continues in Book 3 of The Broken World Series.
The virus was supposed to end the invasion…
It was meant to bring Anna’s daughter back…
It was supposed to save humanity…
But the future is much bleaker than the one Anna had hoped for.
After destroying the alien race that invaded Earth, Anna finds herself in a future she didn’t foresee. She thought she had found a way to stop the invasion, to save her daughter and her family. Instead, she is faced with a world ravaged by the very virus she created while humanity hides in stasis booths, waiting for a cure.
Eve is still waiting. She was told the world would return to normal after six months—it’s been a year. When a distress call from another bunker forces her to brave the world outside, she discovers a world full of lies and a saviour she didn’t expect.
Trigger warnings: violence.
***
The Things We Left Behind – Lydia L. Baker
Decades after nuclear war destroys the world, only two places of safety remain: the Island and the Haven. One of slavery and one of control, both are places to fear. This is something Minnow knows first hand.
After she escapes the Island, Minnow roams an irradiated world until she encounters Caleb, a man with nothing left to lose. For the first time in her life she is cared for, and protected.
When a strange signal comes from a place called Eden, a place claiming to be one of true freedom, Caleb and Minnow prepare to go. However, Caleb’s sudden death on the day they are due to leave destroys the future Minnow foresaw, and all he leaves her are letters, a gun and an instruction: Find Rafe. Follow him.
But Rafe is not quite all he seems and the path he needs Minnow to take is one she is not sure she can follow, even if the future of humanity lies in the balance.
Trigger warnings: mention of suicidal thoughts, violence.
Lucy A. McLaren 
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